Conscious Capitalism: Selling Sunscreen Ecoconsciously

Sometimes, to some people, conducting business and making money is more important than protecting the oceans–but at Stream2Sea, we disagree. We are in the business of sharing education about safe sunscreen, our bodies, and our waters.

Recently, in communicating with an adventure company, I was told by the owner that he would carry Stream2Sea in his retail store–but only if we didn’t sell to anyone else within a 5-mile radius. This means his shop would reap the benefits of having our proven reef-safe sunscreen, while all the nearby shops wouldn’t have the option to also sell our reef safe sunscreen….

I found this conversation really amusing and drastically different from another recent chat I had with the owner of the largest dive training facility in the world. He had simply asked me, “What can I do to help get Stream2Sea placed in all of my competitor’s locations?”

The difference between these two businessmen is that one was looking at retail placement purely from a profit standpoint, while the other was looking at it as doing the right thing, helping to protect his industry, along with making a profit. That’s what many of us call conscious capitalism—which is how companies make magic happen!

The latter client understands that if their competitor down the street is selling toxic products that are contributing to a known stressor harming our environment, that threatens both their livelihoods. He understands that we all should be banding together to encourage consumers to take a few extra minutes and learn why and how to apply mineral-based sunscreens to protect their skin without harming our delicate ecosystems.

I explained to the first customer that once he learns more about Stream2Sea and why it’s so important to use a truly reef-safe product, he would want his competitors to be using it as well.

I’m not sure I completely convinced him, but he did decide to bring in Stream2Sea, even with my assurance that we were going to make sure that everyone in his sensitive marine area was informed about the importance of using ecologically safe products.

And that’s one way we are working to make a difference, one community at a time. I truly believe we are growing fast because we have advocates like you. Thanks so much for your help sharing and educating your friends and colleagues that what we put on our bodies does make a difference!